Cascade Loop

Cascade Loop
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Alpine Lakes wilderness area behind the mountains.
View of Gold Creek valley by Keechelus Lake.

Crossing Snoqualmie Pass, at Keechelus Lake,
we catch a first glimpse of the snow-covered peaks of
the Cascade range in the distance.
The wasserboxer runs smooth, and gives us confidence for
the arduous trip ahead. After touring Hwy 97 over Blewett
Pass, we arrive in the small Bavarian Village of
Leavenworth. Here one can spend many hours browsing
the small shops, and snacking on southern German treats.
The town is touristy, but fun. With its Bavarian decorated
buildings, and the Cascade mountains as a backdrop, it's
almost like spending an afternoon in the Alps.
We stop at our favorite place, Homefires Bakery, in a log
cabin off Icicle Rd, and buy fresh grain breads and
cinnamon rolls. The bakery uses a German-style
wood-fired oven, and the hospitable owners are glad to
give the customers a tour.
Late dinner in our westy at the campground, next to
the glacier-fed roaring waters of Icicle Creek

	Prey's Fruit Barn outside Leavenworth. Great place to buy fresh cherries and apples in season.
	Homefires Bakery in Leavenworth. Fresh whole-grain breads and pastries baked in an German-style wood-fired oven.
	Camping by Icicle Creek in Leavenworth.

Saturday morning we take Hy. 97 towards Wenatchee,
and drive up to the Ohme garden. The romantic gardens
are situated on top of a rocky cliff, and are truly unique.
There are mystical dark green forests, grassy meadows,
ponds and many different varieties of plants, carefully
cultivated in the tradition of a Victorian era garden.
Then it's on to Columbia's Entiat Lake for a picnic at
Lincoln Rock CG. The place was once famous for a
brief period in the late 1800’s. A photographer sent a
picture of the outcropping he claimed resembled
Abe Lincoln’s profile to a woman’s journal.
It put Lincoln Rock on the map, attracting many
visitors. It took awhile, but finally we did recognize
Abe in the rocks, but we're still not quite sure.

	Can you find Abe Lincoln's profile in the rock? View from Lincoln Rock State Park Campground.
Saturday late afternoon, arriving in Winthrop, the bustling western-theme town.

Winthrop, the
old west town.
Caught this
restored double
cab bay
window driving
through town.

We drive to the nearest State Park, beautifully situated by
Lake Pearrygin. All sites are naturally taken, but being
too exhausted to look somewhere else, we park in the
day use, put up the pop top and sleep.
Some time later, the ranger knocks on the sliding door.
We formulate some friendly excuse, and open the door.
Courteously, the ranger tells us there has been a
cancellation, and offers us a site adjoining the lake!
Amazing, Memorial Day weekend, and the lake is very
popular with anglers, boaters, and sun worshippers.
So we got lucky, and camped by Lake Pearrygin.
Sunday morning sightseeing in Winthrop.
The buildings are restored in "the old west" style.
We strolled on the wooden boardwalks, browse the
shops, and eat ice cream.
Just above town, we discover the Shafer Museum,
an authentic open air museum with a vast collection of
antique machinery, pioneer cabins, and all kinds of odd
and ancient paraphernalia that takes one back in time
to the pioneering days of the Pacific N.W.

	Anyone need an inline 3 for an engine conversion in their bus? Antique machinery in Shafer Museum.
	Authentic pioneer cabins in the recreated museum village.
In the afternoon Hwy. 20 takes us up into the North Cascades. The VW bus has to work quite hard, climbing the steep two-lane road. With the auto tranny often shifted in second gear, climbing at 35-40 mph, the engine runs cool, and we are quite content to let the faster traffic pass. The North Cascade Highway is closed in the winter. Even now, (end of May) , there is much snow on the ground at Washington Pass at 5477 ft.

	Washington Pass on the North Cascade Highway. Favorite spot for snowboarding. Even at end of May.
	Ross Lake, seen from a turnout off North Cascade Highway.
After many switchbacks, in the distance below emerges Lake Ross, shrouded in misty fog. As the road descends, into the Skagit Valley, the western vegetation becomes lush and green. Along Hwy 20, we stop at the Cascadian Farm Natural experimental garden and market.

	Experimental gardens and market of the Cascadian Natural Farm Company. Looks just like on their product labels.
Here you can stock up at wholesale prices on their fresh jams, pickles, and vegetables. A short break at the picnic tables overlooking the gardens, before the drive back home.

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